Clutch.



A. W. WARSEN.

CLUTCH.

7 APPLICATION FILED 050.9,1914.

1,170,372. Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- Augus) W. Warsen ATTORNEYS A. w. WARSEN.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1914.

Patented, Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W AugusTWWarsen ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUGUST W. WARSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 9, 1914. Serial No. 876,269.

simple, strong, efficient and inexpensive clutch which is characterized by spreading fingers adapted to double the pressure on the friction surfaces.

With the above and other objects in view, the nature of which will more fully appear as the description proceeds, thefinvention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of the application, similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and-Figure 1 is alongitudinal section through an embodiment of my invention showing the driving and driven members uncoupled; Fig.2 is a similar section showing the driving and the driven members coupled, some of the details of the mechanism being shown in elevation; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3, Fig. 1;-

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the jaws; Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5, Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a modified structure of the friction jaw; Fig. 7 is a modified structure of a spreading finger; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of a clutch showing a modified structure of spreading fingers; and Figs. 9 and 10 are details of the fingers shown in Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings, 7 represents the driving or engine shaft, to which is secured a clutch member 8'in the shape of a shallow cylindrical dish the inner surface of -which is the frictional shrface of the saidclutch member. Alining withthe driving shaft 7 is the driven shaft 9 bearing partlyin the clutch member 8 and in the driving shaft 7. Secured to the driven shaft 9 is a disk 10 which is in close proximity to the bottom of the clutch member8. Mounted to slide rigidly on the disk 10 are jaws 11 each having an elongated central opening 12 adapted to engage'the hub of the disk 10 and an extension 13 of said opening 12, said extension being directed radially toward the circular flange 14 of the jaw which carries the friction material 15, the engagement of which material with the member 8 couples'the driving and the driven shafts. Each of the jaws adjacent the extension 13 is provided with a lateral flange 16 and also with a second lateral flange 17 located at the opposite end of the jaw, the flanges 16 and 17 being in alinement and central with the circular flange and openings of the jaws, The flanges 16 of one jaw face the flanges 17 of the other jaw when they are secured to the disk 10.

T 0 guide the jaws 11 in a radial direction,-

each of the jaws is provided with a pair of elongated slots 18 which are engaged by screws 19 threaded into the disk 10. The disk 10 is provided with pairs of lugs 20 protruding through the extension 13 of the opening in the jaws and located between the flanges16 and 17 'of the aws. Bearing with one end in each-pair of lugs is a spreading finger 21 having cam portions 22 and 23 in contact with the flanges 16 and 17 respectively. The other end of. each finger 21 is engaged between wings 24' of a collar 24 which collar is mounted to slide on the driven shaft 9, the said end of each of the fingers having rollers-engaging the passage 25 formed in the side of the wings. A resilient member- 25 is mounted to co-act with the collar 24 and normally tends to force the same into engagement with the fingers 21 and swing said fingers in their bearings on the lugs 20, consequently causing a simultaneous spreading of the jaws 11, thus clutching the driven and the driving shafts. The cam portions 22 and 23 of the fingers are so related to their pivot that the displacement of said fingers by the cone causes substantially the same radial displacement of the two jaws by each finger. Consequently, if one of the fingers is out of action by some cause, the other finger will operate the two jaws and couple the driving and the driven shafts. Each of the fingers 'is provided with a yoke 21 straddling the adja- }cent flange 16, whereby the jaw is bound to participate in the returning movement of the finger. The movement of the collar 24 is controlled by a suitable, lever 26. The contact'between the flanges 16 and 17 of the jaws and the cam portions 22 and 23 of the fingers is retained by the yokes .21 and also Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

by resilient members 27 normally tending to move the jaws radially away from the lat eral surface of the clutch member 8. It will be noted that the engagement of the cam It may be said that the frictional clutch member on the driven member is formed of segments, mounted to move radially, with means for -moving said segments radially 5 portions '22 and 23 of each finger with the. to engage the frictional clutch member con- 7a 1 flanges of the j aw, relieves all stress from the nected to the driving member.

bearing of the finger in the lug 20. The re- From the vforegoing description, taken in t sult is that each jaw is under pressure of connection with the accompanying drawl the two fingers, consequently, a double-presings, the advantage of the construction and 10 sure results, causing a better surface friction operation of the clutch shown will be read- 75 0f the parts of the clutch. ily understood by those skilled in the art to To take up any play that may be formed which the invention pertains, and while I due to the wear of the fingers and the,collar, have described the operation, together with the fingers are formed of two hinged parts the contrivance which I now consider to he 28 and 29. Ihe part 28 is free to move tothe best embodiment thereof, I desire to so ward the driven member 9 but limited to have it understood that the clutch shown is move on its pivot in the opposite direction merely illustrative and that such changes by an adjusting screw 30 carried in the exmay be made when desired as are within the tension of said member 28. A. screw 31 is scope of the appended claims. carried in the portion 29 of the finger and Having thus described my invention, I 85 projects through they extension of the porclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters tion 28. On this screw a resilient member Patent: 1g 32 is provided which normally brings the 1. In a clutch, a friction member, a disk adjusting screw 30 against the portion 29. therein, a pair of diametrically opposite By means of the adjustingscrew any jaws mounted to move radially on said disk, Wear can be taken up. means carried by said jaws adapted to en- Fig. 6 shows the jaw 11 adjacent the gage the friction member, resilient means fl .17 provided with a secondary flange for moving the jaws toward the axis, spread- 35 extending paral'lelly to the flange 17 and ing fingers bearing on the disk, each of said 30 serving to eliminate the use of yoke 21., as jaws having means for engaging each finger, .I the finger 21 has its cam surface 22" and and means for moving said fingers on their 7 23" formed by rollers (see Fig. 7 of which bearing, whereby said jaws are moved ra- 7 roller 23 is engaged between the flange 17 dially away from the axis of the disk and and the secondary flange 35; consequently, caused toengage' the first friction member. $35 the retracting movement of the lingers when 2. In a friction clutch, spreader fingers We the clutch is released will cause a radial comprising two hinged portions, one of said movement of the jaw 11 toward the axis of portions having an extension, an adjusting the clutch. It isself-evident that spreading screw in said extension engaging the other fingers with cam surfaces formed of rollers portion of the finger, a screw in said other 40 22 and 23", as shown in Fig. 7, may be portion projecting through the extension,

used in connection with a clutch as shown and a resilient member on said screw forcin Figs. 1, 2 and 8, that is to say, using the ing said extension toward said other portion. li. yoke 21 for the retracting movement of the 3, In a clutch, a friction member, a disk jaws, and it is so shown in Fig. 7. therein, friction jaws mounted to slide ra- 'i In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 a further modificadially on said disk, said-jaws having flanged tion of thespreading fingers is shown. The portions on opposite sides of the disks axis, fingers 21 consists of three pieces, 36, 37 spreading fingers bearing on said disk and and 38. Ihe part3? which has the cam sureach having cam portions in engagement f. face engaging the flanges of the friction jaw with said flange portions of the jaws on the 0 18 also provided with a pair of 'lugs 39 same side of the disks axis, and means for adapted to receive adjustable screws 40 and moving said spreading fingers on their bear-- between which is located the part 38 bearing ings, whereby said jaws are actuated subf in the part 37. One face of said member 38 stantially as and for the purpose set forth. is serrated, as shown at 41, and is engaged 4. In a clutch, a friction member, a disk 5 by-the serrated surface of the part 36 which therein, a pain-01f diametrically opposite 124) engages the collar 25'. A. bolt 4& 2'binds the jaws mounted to move radially on said disk, three parts of the finger together. By means friction material carried by said jaws and of the serrated surface and, the bolt a2 an adapted to engage the friction member ;1 ,large adjustment in the finger can be made, flanges on'each aw on opposite sides'of the 0 while by means of the adjusting screws 40 disks axis, a pair of spreading fingers bear- 125 any slight wear in the cam surfacesv of the fingers can be easily taken up.

Although the disclosure shows two jaws- 11, a larger number can be provided," particularly when the size of the clutch is large.

ing on said disk, each having cam portions adjacent its bearing in engagement with a flange on each jaw located on the same side of the disks axis, means for movin said spreading fingers on their bearings w ereby lull 1 nasal are" said jaws are simultaneously operated by each finger, and resilient means connecting said jaws and normally tending to move them radially away from the friction member. I

5. In a clutch, a friction member, a disl therein, friction jaws mounted to slide radially on said disks, said jaws having flanged portions, spreading fingers bearing on said disk and having cam portions in engagement with said flange portions of the jaws, a yoke connecting each finger with the flanged portion of the jaw, and means for moving said spreading fingers on their bearings substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a clutch, a friction member, a disk.

jaw, and means for moving said spreading fingers on their bearings substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a clutch, a friction member, a disk therein, jaws mounted to move radially on said disk, spreading fingers carried by said disk and engaging said jaws, a yoke, connecting each of the fingers with a jaw whereby the jaws are retracted by'the movement of said fingers, and means for actuating said fingers.

8. Ina clutch, a friction member, a disk therein, a pair of diametrically opposite jaws mounted to move radially on said disk to engage the friction member, a pair of spreading fingers ,carried by said disk, each in engagement with both jaws and where-. by both jaws are adapted to be independently moved by each finger, and means actuating said fingers.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST W. WARSEN. WVitnesses:

B. JOFFE, PHILIP D. RoLLHAUs. 

